Ask any non-Christian: What is Christmas and Easter?



Nearly every one, Christian or not, can answer that question fairly close to some sort of truth!

Ask a non-Christian: What is Pentecost?  And you get crickets. 

But ask a Christian, “what is Pentecost”, and the majority of the time you might still get crickets! 

We know it is sometime after Easter, and the really sharp ones might even know that we change the colors of the paramounts to red.  But explaining what it is and why its important - that is a whole other thing.

So lets talk about Pentecost! 

Prior to the event in the New Testament, Pentecost was being celebrated as a Jewish festival called Feast of Weeks.  It was held at the same time each year, 50 days after Passover.  At this festival, they celebrated the first fruits of the harvest and the giving of the Law to Moses. 

Interestingly the word “pentecost” is a Greek word meaning “fiftieth.”  In the Christian calendar, it is celebrated 50 days after Easter.  You can read about it in Acts 2, but here is an overview of what happened.

After they watched Jesus ascend to Heaven, about a week later the followers of Jesus had gathered together, and all the Jews had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost as well. 

When suddenly the Holy Spirit filled the house like a wind rushing in.  The Spirit landed on every believer giving them tongues of fire and with that, they were enabled with the ability to speak different languages.  As you read Acts 2, you will hear what happened next as many became believers at that time. 

But what is most important to remember about Pentecost is that it is yet another promise fulfilled.  Jesus promised that a “helper” or “advocate” would come upon them to guide and empower His believers.  And it was the moment where the disciples now felt that empowerment and desire to spread the Gospel globally. 

We call this day the birth of the Christian Church.  A church that would include everyone - Jews and Gentiles - this is why the Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in different languages, so that all would understand that Jesus came for all. 

And for that we celebrate!